Philip Johnson's iconic postmodern AT&T Building is getting a makeover from Snøhetta

Philip Johnson and John Burgee's 1984 AT&T Building, for many, signaled the arrival of Postmodernism onto the world scene. Now known as the Sony Tower, the 37-story skyscraper's deployment of historicity contradicted the glass and metal modernism of its neighbors, signaling a new architectural era that landed it on the front page of the New York Times, and it's architect, Philip Johnson, onto the cover of Time.

The building has never been designated as a landmark, and whether or not it should is up for debate. Many consider the design to be a failure, particularly at street level, and even the building's importance in architectural history has been questioned by the likes of Barry Bergdoll and William JR Curtis. Even so, Snøhetta's plans should appease those sympathetic to the Postmodern icon. The firm has chosen to keep the recognizable top of the tower as is, focusing on updating interior space and transforming the base into an inviting street front.

According to the firm, the design approach "stitches the life of the building back into the street." The architects plan to replace the failed fortress-like base with an updated design featuring an undulating glass curtainwall at eye level.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 - 12:00 -
Will a Postmodern Icon Be 'Glasswashed'? -
A plan by the design firm Snøhetta to remake Philip Johnson’s AT&T Building has sparked anger in the architecture world.